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The Meeting of the Estates General
King Louis XVI calls the Estate General in the first time in more than 100 years. He had a lot of debt so he called them. This was significant because they raised taxes. http://bastille-day.com/media/The-meeting-of-the-estates-general.png -
The Tennis Court Oath
Representatives of the Third Estate invited representatives from the other estates to write a constitution. Their meeting hall was locked, for the Kinng wanted to get rid of them. As a result, they went to a nearby tennis court and wrote the Tennis Court Oath, which stated that they wouldn't separate until they had a constitution. This was significant because the Third Estate stood up against the King. ahttp://forquignon.com/history/global/tennis_court_oath.jpg -
Storming the Bastille
A mob in Paris first attacked a fortress to weapons. They got 30,000 muskets. After, they attacked a prison, Bastille, which was a symbol of the monarch's authority. They attacked the prison and released 7 prisoners. This event was important because it started the revolution. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Prise_de_la_Bastille.jpg -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Stated that all men are created equal and the natural right to liberty, property, security, and resistance to opposition. It was significant because it said that ALL men, including the third estate, were created equal. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Man_and_of_the_Citizen_in_1789.jpg -
The Great Fear
There were many rumors of attacks by the government on villages, towns, and that they were taking the peasants' crops. As a result, the peasants attacked nobles, lit old manor records on fire, and stole grains. This showed that the peasants were willing to fight against the government. http://www.hubertlerch.com/images/Great_Fear.jpg -
Women March on Versailles
Thousands of women march from Paris to Versailles. They demanded to see the king. However, a lot of their anger was focused on the Queen, for she had been spending extravagantly. They said they would not leave until the King went back to Paris, so they wouldn't have to walk all the way and that the King was close to them. http://ux1.eiu.edu/~cfnek/syllabi/5250/march-of-the-women-on-versailles-paris-1789-by-french-school.jpg -
The Royal Escape
One night, the King, the Queen, and their children made a daring escape back to Versailles. The King was dressed up as a servant and the Queen was a governess. At the border, they were stopped and the man patrolling the border held up a coin and matched it with the Kings face. This was important because it was demoralizing to the citizens because their King tried to abandon them. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Louis16-1775.jpg -
Declaration of Pillnitz
The King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Austria (Mary Antoinette's Brother) issue the Declaration of Pillnitz. It stated that they could intervene to protect the French Monarchy. However, this was mostly a bluff. This was important because it scared French Revolution supporters. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Pillnitz_Fürstentreffen_1791_J.H.Schmidt.jpg -
The Execution of Louis XVI
The citizens called for the Kings death after six weeks of debate. The sent him to the guillotine. Before he died, he said that he was scared for France in the future. He was decapitated by the guillotine. This showed that the citizens could overthrow the monarch. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9t7YdCsdx5s/T5Uzi9VGhmI/AAAAAAAAA10/bmAIYgj31gA/s1600/louis%2Bxvi%2Bexecution.jpg -
Execution of Robespierre
Most of Robespierre's followers stopped supporting him. He called for the execution of more citizens, but was sent to the Guillotine instead. This was historically significant because it was the end of the Reign of Terror. http://www.executedtoday.com/images/Robespierre_executed_1.jpg
